I recently found an Oil, Gas and Mineral Lease that belonged to my Grandmother who passed away. The lease is dated 1990. I am unfamiliar with this and trying to figure out if it means anything or not. I contacted an attorney who was listed on the document and he said he was 99% sure the document is of no use. I don't want to throw it away until I know 100% that there isn't something out there. I am unsure if my Grandmother received any royalty checks. Does anyone know how I can look into this further? Who to contact? It is from the ARKLA Exploration Company from Shreveport, LA.
Thank you in advance for any advise.
Pam, I would say you need to find out if there ever was production, which I know you are trying to do. I don't know where these mineral rights are located but someone here should be able to advise you if you give the legal description. It's the garbage in / garbage out thing. Nobody can help you without you giving them the information necessary to help you.
Pam:
As Mr. Kennedy advised, you need to submit additional information such as the location of the mineral acreage. ARLA Exploration was mentioned and it is possible that the area is near the TX/LA border. This area has been active in both oil and gas production over the years. The gas play in this area is the Haynesville Shale which encompases both areas in Texas and Louisiana. Again, please provide additional information in order that someone might be able to help.
What information is needed? The Township information? It was Township 3 North, Range 1 East. Thank you for responding and your willingness to help me out.
Yes Pam, township, range, section, prime meridian, parish, county, state and survey if any, you have to be able to narrow things down quite closely to be able to tell if a well was ever drilled there. You did say the company is from Shreveport but that doesn't necessarily mean that we are talking about a property in Louisiana. The best description you can give, the lease should have it, is what is needed.
The lease says the land is located in Wilkinson County in Mississippi. It was with ARKLA. The lease says the following:
Township 3 North, Range 1 East: Section 27: The North 20 acres of the SE1/4 NW1/4 and a parcel of land containing 5.00 acres, more or less, in the NW1/4 NE1/4 described as follows: Beginning at the Southwest corner of the NW1/4 NE1/4 and run East 10 chains; thence North 5 chains; thence West to the boundary line of the NW1/4 NE1/4; thence South 5 chains to the point of beginning. Containing in all 25.00 acres, more or less.
Wherever the fraction 1/8th appears in the royalty provisions of this lease in Paragraph 3 it is hereby amended to read 3/16ths.
Pam, that should cover it. You might also post in the Wilkinson county forum. You can find county groups under the header groups at the top of this page. I myself am not familliar with Missippi but someone should have the knowledge now to help and in the county group someone may be close to your description.
Perfect! Thanks so much for your help with this. I don't want to throw anything away until I know for sure it is nothing. :)
Pam:
I would advise that you contact the Mississippi Oil and Gas Board @ (601) 576-4900. Find out if their on-line web site has a mapping system where you can plug in your Township/Range/Section info and learn of any activity in your immediate area. Also, the inspectors map will provide the field inspectors name, who you might want to contact in regards for information sources.
Thank you for the information. I will check out their website and give them a call.